Improvement in playing-cards



- I ..LEVY.

' PLAYING-CARDS.

No. 178,863, I Patented June 20.1816.

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UNITED STATES QFFICE.

ISAAC LEVY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLAYING-CARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,863, dated June 20, 1876; application filed April 4, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISAAC LEVY, of the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Playing-Cards, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw- 1ngs.

The object of my invention is to vary and increase the combinations, especially numerically, that can be made with a pack of playing-cards, and to enable players not only to vary and increase the interest in those games nowin vogue, but by the use of my improved cards to play a variety of games of which the ordinary playing-cards are not susceptible.

An ordinary pack of American and English cards consists of fifty-two separate cards, divided into four suits, viz: hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds, thirteen of each, to which has been of late years added one additional ornamented or blank card, generally called the joker. The separate cards of each suit are distinguished by having thereon imprinted a certain number of denominate pips or spots, commencing respectively with the ace or one spot, and then following in consecutive numerical order up to the ten spot, after which each suit has a knave, a queen, and a king, commonly known as picture or court cards.

In many games where, either with or without other qualities and powers, numerical calculation is a component pact of determining the results or merits of a game, each one of these picture or court cards acquires a certain valueusually that of a ten-spot.

In my invention I dispensev with these picture or court cards, and substitute for them, respectively, an eleven, twelve, and thirteen spot card, as shown in Figs. 1,2, 3 of the drawing that accompanies this specification.

The ordinary pips or spots, or equivalent symbols, may be placed on the cards as shown, or may be arranged in any other order that taste or convenience may dictate.

In order to still further vary and increase the combinations beyond that which can be secured on an ordinary pack of cards, wherein the pips, spots, or equivalent emblems upon any one of which do not reach beyond the determine the highest number which is desired to be used, and then to grade the whole pack so that the enumeration will reach thereto; but I do not confine myself or desire to be limited in such cases strictly to consecutive numbers, but may vary them or select those of an even or an odd character, omitting intervening numbersas, for instance, in a pack of fifty-two cards, so numerated to commence on each suit of thirteen at two, or another given number, and thereafter to progress by couples to four, six, eight, ten, twelve, and so on until the larger selected number is reached.

Another part of my invention relates to applying and using my improved device in packs of cards consisting of more than fifty-two or fifty-three cards, so as to thereby increase the combinations to an almost indefinite extent, but for all practical or useful purposes I do prefer not to go beyond twenty-sixpips, spots, or equivalent symbolical indicia on a card, or to use any device or illustration that would signify over twenty-six spots, or, that would increase a pack of cards more than one hundred and four cards, unless the blank or ornamental card known as the joker be added, thus making a pack of one hundredand five cards. To illustrate this part of my invention I refer to Figs. 4, 5, 6, which are, respectively, a fourteen, fifteen, and twenty spot card, and

it will be seen that I do not limit myself to the conventional spot or pip, but sometimes use arbitrary devices or symbols, to which special symbols or devices, as shown, I do not desire to limit myself, as they may be changed to any equivalent symbol or device intended to represent, in a form different from the usual manner, as done by the conventional spot, the grade, character, and numerical valution of a card. As an aid to the player I also preferably place in duplicate on each card, near the center, a numeral, showing the value thereof, these numerals being placed in positions each reversed from the other, so as to enable the holder of a card to readily read its denomi nated value without counting the pips or spots, and without regard to which end of the fifty-two or more cards, having three cards of each suit imprinted on theirfac'es respectively, with a number of spots or suit pips-over ten-designed to take the place of the customary picture-cards known as the knave, queen,

and king, and having also other cards in1- printed with spots or suit pips, graded up to any desired number, either consecutively or otherwise, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

ISAAC LEVY.

Witnesses CHARLES CUSHMAN, PHINEAS LAWRENCE. 

